Pune

Sanjay Gandhi Hospital Faces Scrutiny as Nursing Students Allege Sexual Harassment

Sanjay Gandhi Hospital Faces Scrutiny as Nursing Students Allege Sexual Harassment

Sanjay Gandhi Hospital, located in the Vindhya region of Madhya Pradesh, has once again come under scrutiny. Eighty BSc nursing students have leveled serious allegations of sexual harassment and mental abuse against a doctor stationed in the hospital's ENT department. The students collectively submitted a written complaint to the college principal regarding the doctor's alleged inappropriate and offensive behavior. Subsequently, the matter came to the administration's notice, creating a stir within the hospital.

Serious Allegations Against Dr. Ashraf

In their complaint, the students accused Dr. Ashraf of the ENT department of engaging in objectionable and inappropriate behavior towards nursing students for a long time. According to them, the doctor's conduct is not only insensitive but also creates situations of mental harassment on several occasions. The students also stated that they feel unsafe in Dr. Ashraf's presence, which is affecting the clinical learning environment.

The students clearly wrote that this is not just a matter of indiscipline, but a direct issue of mental and emotional abuse that has been ignored for a long time.

Hospital Administration on Alert

The incident at Sanjay Gandhi Hospital not only questions the reputation of a single institution but also exposes a sensitive weakness within the entire medical system, where the safety and dignity of trainee students still feel neglected. This incident clarifies that even in a serious and responsible field like healthcare, creating a safe and respectful training environment remains a significant and necessary challenge today.

SS Medical College Dean Dr. Sunil Agarwal has confirmed that a special committee has been formed to investigate the matter and has been instructed to submit its report within seven days.

Previous Concerns Raised

It is noteworthy that this is the same ENT ward where, a few weeks ago, a minor attendant of a female patient accused a wardboy of gang rape, leading to action against the wardboy. Now, the collective complaint from the nursing students has once again raised questions about the hospital's security and monitoring system.

The students say that when the training environment itself is not safe, both learning and serving become challenging. Given the sensitivity of the matter, the college, hospital administration, and the medical university are now all closely watching the developments.

What the Law Says

The investigation into this case is being conducted under the Sexual Harassment of Women at Workplace (Prevention, Prohibition and Redressal) Act, 2013. This Act is designed to provide a safe environment for women in workplaces and clearly states that after receiving a complaint, an internal committee must be formed to conduct a fair investigation within a set timeframe.

Report Expected Soon

This incident at Sanjay Gandhi Hospital is not just a blemish on the image of an institution, but it also points to the weak link in the entire health system where training students do not feel safe. This case shows that ensuring a safe and respectful environment even in a responsible field like medicine remains a major challenge today. Now, everyone's eyes are on the investigation report, which will be released in seven days. The students demand strict action against the culprits so that no trainee suffers such harassment in the future.

 

Leave a comment